In a new study published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, researchers at University of British Columbia in Vancouver explored the connection between marijuana use and neural mechanisms involved in cognitive processing.

Data show that THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, does not impair the rats' ability to perform or complete cognitively demanding tasks, but that it does affect the decision-making process when rats are presented with a choice of either low-effort/low-reward (LR) or high-effort/high-reward (HR) task. More specifically, following systemic administration of THC, rats showed significantly higher preference for the LR task over the HR task. In other words, the rats exhibited a choice shift toward the task that required less cognitive effort to complete.

About Me

A well-respected physician and educator Dr. Harrison is the Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of Eleanor Health, a value-based provider of comprehensive outpatient addiction treatment. Approachable and energetic, she has been known to explain medical concepts with an ease and humor that results in her audiences developing understanding of difficult material while having a good time doing it! She has written and presented several articles and workshops on the medical aspects of addiction and other psychiatric disorders. She is available for media appearances, supervision and medical consultation and to answer any questions you may have about addictive or other psychiatric disorders.